The Dixie Twits

I don't even listen to much country music, and I never cared too much about the The Dixie Chicks, but I'm sick of hearing about it.

I touched on this a while back talking about how some people feel the need to inform others how embarrassed or ashamed they are to be loosely affiliated with someone else.

So the Chicks are back...and they're Not Ready To Make Nice. Good for them.

Here's my central argument. They were ashamed that the President is from the same state they are. They told a European audience this. To Americans, it seemed like pandering to the European crowd (would they have told a group in Houston the same thing? would they have felt the need to?) I'll say this: I don't agree that personal threats should have been made against them as a result. They're entitled to their opinion, and they're entitled to share it with whoever's willing to pay $90 to go to their concert and hear them preachify. By the same token, fans who wanted to organize Dixie Chick CD-barbeques were just as entitled to express their displeasure with their statement. And, since radio is supported by advertising, which is in turn dependent on listeners, if a radio station feels it needs to stop playing Chicks music to keep its listenership, that's just the free market, baby.

None of this makes the Chicks right or wrong. I personally thought their statement was ignorant, and just a little hypocritical. They're outspoken opponents of the war, and they cite being mothers as the impetus behind that. War is ugly, young people die in them, and mothers have always hated that (with the possible exception of Spartan mothers, who seemed to understand warrior culture and honor). But don't you think a band who's recorded a song whose hook is "Earl had to die" may not have the highest moral ground to stand on?

And yes, I understand that "Goodbye, Earl" is a song about the evils of spousal abuse, and that it's helped raise awareness of the problem, etc. etc. etc. But if you can sing about using violence to solve one problem, perhaps you should be prepared for people to find your opinions unpopular when you decry it in other situations.

Finally, there are those who wonder why people would stop listening to the music, just because of the personal statements of the band members. After all, they argue, they didn't become less-talented musicians just because their foot fits in their mouth. Well, let's ask the question a slightly different way. If I spend close to $100 a ticket to hear music, why should I be subjected to the personal opinions of the musicmakers (except, of course, when those opinions are actually contained within the songs, and I ostensibly know what I'm getting into)?

Since the Chicks' new CD just debuted at #1, perhaps in addtion to being ashamed that President Bush is from Texas, they could be a little appreciative of all this free publicity.